Device for assisting cigarette smokers to discontinue smoking

ABSTRACT

A device for assisting smokers to give up smoking cigarettes and which provides a chemical substance to suppress the desire for smoking and also satisfies the psychological requirements associated with giving up smoking. The device in its assembled form resembles a cork tipped cigarette. The white portion is a plastic barrel. The cork portion is a lozenge preferably containing a chemical substance which inhibits the desire for tobacco. The two portions are preferably packed separately and the smoker in attaching them, satisfies the requirement of &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;lighting up.&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; The device is used as a normal cigarette and sucking on the lozenge and removing it from the mouth satisfies the oral gratification associated with smoking. The device may also be provided with a simulated ash which may also be luminous under the control of the smoker. This latter feature satisfies further psychological requirements associated with smoking.

United States Patent 91 Rosenblatt 51 Feb. 5, 1974 DEVICE FOR ASSISTING CIGARETTE SMOKERS TO DISCONTINUE SMOKING [21] Appl. No.: 166,345

[52] U.S. Cl ..128/260, 131/12, 131/170 A 1 at, .m, 3.1 99LAZfi47 Q0 [58] Field of Search 128/201 208, 260;

131/171 A, 131/170 A, 12; 424/14; 99/138 R, 138 S [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,668,524 5/1928 Bogue 99/138 S 3,244,180 5/1966 Stone 131/9 X 3,413,978 12/1968 Brill 131/12 X 1,507,925 9/1924 Marshall, Jr... 131/12 2,746,890 5/1956 Legler 131/8 A 1,987,354 1/1935 Albert 131/187 3,320,953 5/1967 Rindner 128/201 1,769,215 7/1930 Firmin 99/138 S FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS OTHER PUBLICATIONS Kessler, Hunt for Safe Cigaret Sparks Big Variety of Inventions, But Outlook Remains Gloomy, The Wall Street Journal, 12-29-69.

Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner.1. C. McGowan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Roland Plottel 5 7] ABSTRACT A device for assisting smokers to give up smoking cigarettes and which provides a chemical substance to suppress the desire for smoking and also satisfies the psychological requirements associated with giving up smoking. The device in its assembled form resembles a cork tipped cigarette. The white portion is a plastic barrel. The cork portion is a lozenge preferably containing a chemical substance which inhibits the desire for tobacco. The two portions are preferably packed separately and the smoker in attaching them, satisfies the requirement of lighting up. The device is used as a normal cigarette and sucking on the lozenge and removing it from the mouth satisfies the oral gratification associated with smoking. The device may also be provided with a simulated ash which may also be luminous under the control of the smoker. This latter feature satisfies further psychological requirements associated with smoking.

11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR ASSISTING CIGARETTE SMOKERS TO DISCONTINUE SMOKING The invention relates to devices for assisting cigarette smokers to discontinue smoking.

Heretofore, a number of substances and devices have been proposed for assisting cigarette smokers to discontinue the smoking of tobacco. One such substance is contained in candies or lozenges which the smoker is to take whenever he feels the craving for a cigarette. The lozenges contain a chemical which suppresses the desire for tobacco. These lozenges are sold under a variety of trade names, including Nikoban, which are regularly sold in drugstores or at tobacco counters. There are a number of chemical substances which suppress the desire for tobacco of which lobeline-sulfate is a typical one. Another prior art method of assisting a smoker to give up a smoking habit is a small, hollow plastic apparatus that resembles a cigarette in shape, size and color. The plastic tube is hollow, has a hole at each end, and is filled with menthol crystals. A person desiring a cigarette takes one of these false plastic cigarettes in his mouth, and draws air through it. The air passes over the menthol crystals and brings a very sharp menthol flavor into the mouth. This device is thought to assist the individual in exercising his will-power to give up smoking.

These devices, however, have various shortcomings. They ignore various important psychological factors which are involved in smoking, and in giving up smoking. Part of the pleasure of smoking is the ritual of lighting up. This consists of removing a cigarette from the package, tapping it, putting it in mouth, finding a match, striking the match, and then lighting the cigarette. This whole ritual of lighting up is totally lacking with both lozenges and with plastic cigarettes. A second psychological consideration is that of oral gratification which comes from sucking or drawing on the cigarette. The lozenge, which is only a candy in the mouth, does not satisfy this need. The plastic hollow cigarette does to some extent, but lacks the chemical additive of the lozenge. A third psychological consideration in smoking is that of taking one or two puffs and then putting down the cigarette for some time and taking a subsequent puff. Also involved here is the holding or fondling of the cigarette as well as the tapping off of the ash, or the grating of the end of the cigarette ash into an ashtray. All of these rituals; lighting up, puffing on the cigarette, and tapping off the ash are part of the psychological pleasure of cigarette smoking.

The prior art devices do not have all of these features. Clearly the lozenge, which is the most effective aid to giving up smoking due to its chemical substances, does not satisfy any of the three. The plastic tube filled with menthol does not satisfy the lighting up technique, and to a lesser extent does not satisfy the oral needs and some of the tapping-off-the-ash needs. The plastic cigarette, more importantly, lacks the chemical substances which are most helpful in giving up smoking.

Furthermore, the chemical substances which decrease the desire for tobacco, are needed only at those times that one wishes to, or feels the necessity of, puffing upon the cigarette. One may feel this need just for a moment or two, as one would smoke a cigarette, taking a puff or two, and then letting it lie, most of the time in an ashtray. With the lozenge, however, it is necessary to place the entire lozenge in the mouth, where it stays continuously for several minutes, until completely dissolved. A person may have need for the lozenge for a very short time interval over this several minute period. It would be better from a health point of view, not to continuously suck on the lozenges, but only as needed.

The present invention is a device for assisting a person to give up cigarette smoking. It both provides a chemical substance as well as satisfying the various psychological needs associated with smoking. The invention is a device which is shaped as a cigarette. It comes in two pieces; one is a plastic barrel, the other is a lozenge filled with a chemical for inhibiting the need for tobacco. It is envisioned that the device of the present invention might be packaged in a container similar to the size and shape of a cigarette pack. One or two plastic holders would be in every pack and the individual lozenges would be individually packed. Thus a person would take out the plastic holder, and as necessary draw out the individual lozenge and attach it onto the plastic holder. This ritual of opening the box, taking out the lozenge, closing the box, putting it away, forcing the lozenge onto the barrel and moving the assembled lozenge-barrel cigarette to the mouth, satisfies the psychological need of the activity and anticipation prior to the smoke. This would give the psychological feeling of lighting-up. The person desiring to give up smoking would put the lozenge end into his mouth and suck on it whenever he feels the need for tobacco. When he does not, he just would place the cigarette into an ashtray or other recepticle. Once in the persons mouth, the lozenge of the cigarette gives both the needed chemical to assist in abating the desire for the tobacco, and also the psychological need for sucking or oral gratification. As this need is no longer necessary, the person would hold the plastic portion of the cigarette and remove the lozenge end of the cigarette from the mouth, and when necessary, lay the cigarette down in an ashtray. Thus, the lozenge is only used when there is a craving or need for the cigarette. The further psychological need for playing with the cigarette, such as by flicking off the ash, can be met by providing in this invention a rough end on the cigarette. This end can be rubbed against an ashtray or otherwise played with. When the person trying to give up smoking tobacco has used up the lozenge, or has the need to light up," then the old lozenge can be screwed off, or otherwise removed, from the plastic barrel and a new lozenge removed from the package, and screwed on.

In an alternative embodiment the device of the invention is provided with a luminous tip which under the control of the smoker may be made to glow. This glowing feature gives added realism to the cigarette and further psychologically assists the smoker in giving up tobacco in that his attention is directed to the glowing portion of the cigarette and the manipulation of the control for the glow.

Thus, there is provided an improved device for assisting people to give up smoking which meets the various psychological needs associated with smoking, i.e., of lighting up, oral gratification, etc. It also has a chemical which assists the individual in giving up smoking, and which chemical, however, is only used when the need is felt for smoking, thereby avoiding an unnecessary ingestion of the chemical.

The above and other objects features and advantages of this invention will be apparent in the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the device of this invention. I

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the device of FIG. 1 taken along its length.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the end portion of the device of the invention showing an alternative embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the device of this invention.

Referring now to the drawing of FIG. 1, there is shown the device of the invention having a plastic barrel or tube and a lozenge 12. The plastic barrel is of similar dimensions to the tobacco portion of a standard cigarette, i.e., approximately 2% inches long and fivesixteenths of an inch in diameter. Typically, it is colored white to resemble cigarette paper, and preferably is made of a plastic material, although non-plastics may be used. A male fitting 22 is shown extending from one end of the tube 10 and is oriented coaxially with the tube. The fitting has a smaller outside diameter than that of the tube 10. The fitting 22 has a one-half turn thread 24. The fitting typically is of the same material as the barrel itself, i.e. plastic, although other material, i.e., steel or other metal might be used. The barrel 10 and fitting 22 are preferably of a rigid material. The lozenge 12 has an overall dimension approximately the same size as the cork filter on a filter cigarette. This typically is three-fourths of an inch in length and has a diameter equal to the diameter of the barrel 10. The lozenge itself may be of any semi-resilient candy substance and is preferably filled with a material to inhibit the desire for nicotine. There are several such chemicals presently available. A typical one is lobelinesulfate. The lozenge 12 is provided with afemale fitting 26, which is coupled to the fitting 22. The fitting 26 may be provided with an internal recessed groove that is the complement of the thread 24 on the fitting 22. Alternatively, the fitting 26 need not be provided with such a recessed groove and the lozenge, because of its resilient nature, will be self-tapping or self-threading as the lozenge is screwed onto the fitting 22. Alternatively (and not shown) two half turn, or a double half turn, thread might be used instead of the single half turn thread 24 shown in FIG. 1. The thread on the coupling 24, moreover, preferably is a half turn, although couplings of more than one half turn or less might be used. Alternatively, a thread 24 might be dispensed with completely, and the lozenge might be attached to the coupling 22 by friction fitting, it being noted that the lozenge is a more resilient material than the fitting on the barrel.

The device of FIG. 1 is assembled by taking a lozenge, which is normally packed separately from the barrel, and attaching the lozenge 12 onto the barrel fitting 22 by screwing or forcing the two fittings 22 and 26 together.

As a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the fitting 22 extends the full length of the lozenge 12, and the fitting 26 in the lozenge also extends completely therethrough, thereby forming a tube shaped lozenge. This extended length fitting 22 provides stability in the mouth for the cigarette as the lozenge l2 disintegrates. With this arrangement, the individual desiring to give up smoking may suck on the end of the barrel and fitting 22 even after the lozenge has been consumed.

Turning now to FIG. 2, there is shown a crosssectional view of the assembled. device of FIG. 1. Like elements in both FIGS. 1 and 2 bear like legend with the barrel having legend 10, lozenge 12, fitting 22, thread 24, and fitting 26.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a portion of the end of the barrel 10 of FIG. 1. This is the end which is opposite to the fitting 22 and lozenge 12. This end is provided with a graveled or roughened surface 32, and also is preferably colored to resemble the ash at the end of a cigarette. The purpose of the textured and roughened end 32 is not only to give the appearance of a cigarette, but also to permit the user of the device to rub the end of the cigarette into an ashtray and obtain a physical feel of the roughened end rubbing against the ashtray. This satisfies the psychological need of tapping or grinding out the cigarette; and since the end 32 has the appearance of a true cigarette, the possibility of comments that one is rubbing a plastic or unlit cigarette in an ashtray is reduced. Thus, the roughened end provides an excuse for rubbing the cigarette into an ashtray, as well as a feel for the end of the cigarette.

Turning now to FIG. 4, there is shown a crosssectional view of an alternative embodiment of the device of this invention. Here there is shown a barrel 40 having a fitting 42 at one end which is coupled to a lozenge 44 as shown in FIG. 1. The fitting 42 has a thread 46 which is similar to the thread 24 in FIG. 1. The other end of the barrel is fitted with a flowing or luminous device such as an electro-luminescent device in the area in which a normal cigarette would be burning and giving a glow. The burning region of the cigarette may be positioned at the very end, or inward from the end, and contain an ash colored portion. This ash region and electro-luminescent device is shown generally by the legend 50. A battery 52 is placed in a hollow recess of the tube 40 and the electro-luminescent glowing portion is provided with an electrical contact 54 that makes contact to one terminal'of the battery. The second contact for the electro-luminescent end of the cigarette is shown by a contact button at 56 and an electrical lead 58 extends down the internal length of the tube 40 and terminates adjacent to the rear of the battery. The wire 58 is resilient and is normally not in contact with the battery 52 itself. A push button plunger shown generally at 59 mounted in a hole transverse the barrel proximate to the end of the battery. The push button plunger consists of a piston 60 having a flared bottom 62 and guide shaft 64, terminating in a head 66 which extends beyond the edges of the transverse hole in which the piston is mounted. The flared bottom 62 rests against a protrusion of the resilient electrical lead 58 which normally holds the push button plunger in what is shown in the drawing as the up position with the lead 58 out of contact with the end of the battery 52. The head 66 on the bottom of the guide shaft prevents the resilient lead from pushing the plunger out of the transverse hole. When it is desired to cause the luminous end 50 to glow, the plunger 59 is depressed, piston 60 moves downward, flared bottom 62 pushes against the end of spring 58 thereby making contact between the lead 58 and the battery 52. When pressure applied by the finger is removed from the plunger 59, the end portion of the resilient spring pushes the piston upward breaking the contact between the lead and battery. With this arrangement, the person desirous of giving up smoking may further occupy himself as needed by playing with the cigarette and causing it to light up.

Thus, there has been shown and described a device for assisting a smoker to give up smoking. The device and its use will assist the person desirous of giving up smoking by providing both a chemical, and also satisfying the psychological, needs associated with smoking, namely the manipulation of the device prior to putting it in the mouth, the sucking, and if need be, the snuffing out of the cigarette or tapping off of the ash. Furthermore, the chemical which assists in giving up smoking is taken only as needed.

Although illustrative embodiments of this invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A device comprising a barrel having the shape and size of a cigarette, a male fitting at one end of said barrel and having a smaller transverse dimension than the diameter of the barrel, a tubular lozenge including a chemical substance for suppressing the desire to smoke tobacco, and having an outside diameter substantially the same as that of said barrel, and resembling a cork filter on a cigarette, and a female fitting at one end of said lozenge for coupling with said male fitting whereby said lozenge and barrel may be connected to and disconnected from one another.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said lozenge is more resilient than said male fitting thereby assisting the attachment of the lozenge and the male fitting.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said fittings include a screw on one fitting.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the other fitting has a mating groove for said screw.

5. A device according to claim 3 wherein the male fitting has a screw and the female is self threading.

6. A device according to claim 3 wherein said fittings are one half turn fittings whereby the lozenge and barrel are attached at one half turns relative to each other.

7. A device according to claim 2 wherein said fittings are friction fittings.

8. A device according to claim 1 wherein said barrel includes at the end opposite to said fittings a roughened graveled surface.

9. A device according to claim 1 wherein said barrel includes at an end opposite to said fitting a luminescent region.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein said luminescent end is electro-luminescent and said barrel contains an electrical energy source for illuminating said electro-luminescent end, and operator operative means for illuminating said electro-Iuminescent end.

ll. A device according to claim 1 wherein said female fitting on said lozenge extends through the entire length thereof, so that said lozenge is opened at both ends. 

1. A device comprising a barrel having the shape and size of a cigarette, a male fitting at one end of said barrel and having a smaller transverse dimension than the diameter of the barrel, a tubular lozenge including a chemical substance for suppressing the desire to smoke tobacco, and having an outside diameter substantially the same as that of said barrel, and resembling a cork filter on a cigarette, and a female fitting at one end of said lozenge for coupling with said male fitting whereby said lozenge and barrel may be connected to and disconnected from one another.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said lozenge is more resilient than said male fitting thereby assisting the attachment of the lozenge and the male fitting.
 3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said fittings include a screw on one fitting.
 4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the other fitting has a mating groove for said screw.
 5. A device according to claim 3 wherein the male fitting has a screw and the female is self threading.
 6. A device according to claim 3 wherein said fittings are one half turn fittings whereby the lozenge and barrel are attached at one half turns relative to each other.
 7. A device according to claim 2 wherein said fittings are friction fittings.
 8. A device according to claim 1 wherein said barrel includes at the end opposite to said fittings a roughened graveled surface.
 9. A device according to claim 1 wherein said barrel includes at an end opposite to said fitting a luminescent region.
 10. A device according to claim 9 wherein said luminescent end is electro-luminescent and said barrel contains an electrical energy source for illuminating said electro-luminescent end, and operator operative means for illuminating said electro-luminescent end.
 11. A device according to claim 1 wherein said female fitting on said lozenge extends through the entire length thereof, so that said lozenge is opened at both ends. 